Heavy lies the head that wears the crown. It’s an old saying. Honda City has ruled the roost with an invincible dominance of the premium C-segment. Who could fault its combination of attributes: style, the Honda badge, good fuel-efficiency, effortless performance and the aura of being the ‘Car of the Year’? The swagger was inevitable. But then stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight comes a car with huge ambitions. The Volkswagen Vento is a car we’ve all been waiting for. We drove it and loved it. Now it must scale the ramparts of Fort Honda in an attempt to usurp the crown.

The first time I laid my eyes on this Italian beauty a year-and-a-half ago, I fell in love with it instantly and imagined myself driving an all-black Linea with a fine chrome trim around the tinted windows. And even though the ride and handling were up to the mark, I remained disappointed. I was not the only one. Maybe too much is expected of Fiat, as the brand inspires passion, style and similar things normally associated with such a renowned Italian brand.

You have to give it to Hyundai: starting from scratch and becoming the second-largest car maker in the country is no mean feat. When you look at the Korean company’s products, you begin to understand why. Whether it was the Santro or the newer i10 and i20, these cars have gone on to rock the market. Of these, the i10 is currently the largest seller in Hyundai’s range and has the distinction of being the second-highest selling car in India. So, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Well, Hyundai wants to stay ahead of the game.